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Sharapova, Williams shrug off injuries

Jim Morton

Maria Sharapova has joined Serena Williams on the injured list but Brisbane International tennis organisers are adamant both will headline their star-studded women's field at Pat Rafter Arena.

Sharapova once again raised concerns over her desire to play in Queensland after withdrawing from a Korean exhibition match against Caroline Wozniacki, scheduled for Saturday, with neck soreness.

The Russian star pulled out of the Brisbane tournament 12 months ago with a lingering ankle problem while she also withdrew from its WTA forerunner on the Gold Coast in 2007 when she was the major drawcard.

But it's third time lucky for Queensland according to tournament organiser Cameron Pearson, with Sharapova to arrive on Saturday - a day earlier than scheduled.

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Pearson was notified by her manager that the four-time major winner would withdraw from the Seoul exhibition match before she made it news with a Facebook post saying she'd woken up with neck pain around Christmas.

"For everyone in Korea, I'm sorry I had to withdraw from my exhibition match," she wrote. "I woke up the other day with a neck pain and, after doing a few tests, the doctor wants me to take the next few days without any playing."

Like Sharapova, Williams last week pulled out of her own post-Christmas exhibition match, against Li Na in Thailand, following toe surgery but has the all-clear to return in Brisbane.

"I think Maria and Serena are the two biggest stars in women's tennis so it's great that they're both going to be here and both be fit and ready to play the first tournament of the year," Pearson told AAP.

Williams, looking for her 16th grand-slam title at the Australian Open next month, arrives in Brisbane on Friday morning just after former world No.1 Wozniacki flies in with golfer boyfriend Rory McIlroy.

While the American world No.3 played in Brisbane 12 months ago, she was forced to retire in the second round after badly rolling her ankle.

She's among eight of the world's top-10 women playing in the strong Brisbane field, with first-round matches starting on Sunday.

World No.1 Victoria Azarenka, the inaugural Brisbane winner in 2009, has replaced Williams in the Thailand exhibition and will use it as a warm-up to her Australian campaign.

Azarenka and Sharapova both receive first-round byes, as do the top four men's seeds, headlined by Scot Andy Murray.

Gold Coaster Ben Mitchell joined Lleyton Hewitt and Matt Ebden as the third Australian to gain a wildcard into the men's draw, while Victorian Olivia Rogowska received the second women's wildcard.

Local hope Samantha Stosur starts her home summer under lights in the prime Monday night spot on Pat Rafter Arena.